The Portland daily press., 1887-08-09
THE FAvoRiTES.
Racing to Marblehead for J. Pierre
pont Morgan's Prizes.
The Volunteer Leading the Fleet by
Cape Cod.

on the race to Marblehead for the prizes Of
fered by j. Pierrepont Morgan of $1,000 for
schooners and $500 each for first and second
class sloops. The breeze, which almost en-
tirely died down at sundowa last night and
promised to shift to the southwark, remained
true to its northeasterly bearings and sprung
up with renewed freshness just after mid
night, keeping alive bright hopes of a favor
able run on the morrow. The wind blew
steadily all night, and by daylight it was
evident that fine start would be had. The
wind, which was blowing six knots at sun
rise, rapidly increased to spanking ten knot
breeze, shortly after blowing directly from
the northeast, and promising an interesting
beat to windward two-thirds of the way to
Marblehead The morning was splendid,
devoid of haze and fog, with a bright sun
light pouring over the eastern shore of the
Haven. Before six o'clock all sails were
spread to the warm sun to dry and stretch.
Preparatory to the start, the Volunteer,
which was furthest down the harbor
weighed anchor at 6.15 a. m, and was towed
to position near the line by tug boat, and
took to her sails. She was first of the sloops
under way ana had on board quite a num-
Der OF visitors who were prepared to see her
win the $500 which was waiting at Marble
head. Shortly after the Volunteer, the
Mayfower, and then the Puritan started
towards the front to test their sails, and
cruised about for good places from which to
shoot across the line as soon as the signal
gun was fired.
Though there was considerable motion on
the watar the Volunteer rode as smoothly
as If on lake. The Atlantic, which had
lest the squadron on Saturday, came in last
night and was fully prepared to try this
morning her New York luck against New
England speed. At 6.45 the flagship
Electra steamed out of the harbor
to position one mile north of East
Chop Light, and anchored at 655 a. m.
Along the bluffs, as the time for the start
ing approached, crowds OF people. gathered,
and glasses by scores were leveled at the
champions as they tackled back and forth
preparatory to the dash across the line.
The Puritan and Volunteer had estimated
their distance with wonderful precision, and
crossed the line within four seconds of each
other under full sail and Roadway on the
port tack, the Puritan keeping to the wind
ward. AT 7.20 the Electra weighed anchor
and steamed after the fleet in big hurry
At that time the leaders were hull down on
the horizon, the Puritan and Volunteer ap-
parently neck and neck and making wonder
ful time. Cheers from the steamers and
yachts rang out as the two leaders passed
close under the lee of the Electra and within
100 feet of each other. There couldn't have
to be remembered by the enthusiastic and
waving crowds along tine bluffs. A large ex-
cursion on board the Island Home followed
the racers to Cross Rip lightship, besides
many sailing vessels.
BY O'Clock every sail had disappeared be-
meath the horizon under a strong breeze,
which blew steadily and gave no sign of
tagging out. If this breeze keeps up the
run to Marblehead will probably be made in
Is hours, and will give chance for the new
gI00n tn ghou hpr rnatflo
wind. About five miles from shore the
volunteer went ahead of the Puritan in fine
style, and closed up on the Saehem, which
mad come down directly with the tide and
was leading the fleet.
The Island Homes Report.
COTTAGE CITY, Mass, August .S.-The
steamer Island Home has just returned
from following the squadron and reports the
following as the position of the yachts off
Monday Point at 1919 a. M: Volunteer one
mile ahead and gaining; then the Greyling,
Puritan, Sachem, Mayfower Priscilla, At
latlc lahtlc and Bedouln. in the order named.
The wind had fallen somewhat, but was
still blowing fair from the northeast.
The Volunteer Leads Off Chatham.
CHATHAM, Mass, Aug S.-The sloop
yachts at 1915 are standing in from Pollock
@sAP eN"oAo Nhoshdui llSulSs lut
leads the fleet, and after standing close to
the beach on the first tack has made several
short tacks and is working rapidly up the
beach, continually increasing her lead owe r
all others and holding the. breeze, which
shows signs of taking ''sea-turn," mo der
ating and veering to southerly.
AT 1880 the Volunteer has tackled off shore
again, the Puritan standing inshore about
mile astern.
12.45. The Volunteer and Puritan are both
standing in, with wind slightly veered to
the eastward, and are nearly lying along
with the beach, while all those astern are
losing. The Mayflower has tackled off
the Puritan, and is getting the same slant of
wind as the Puritan and Volunteer. The
latter is continuing to range ahead of ALL
Cannot yet define the position of the
schooners standing in from Pollock's Rip.
Beating Around Cape Cod.
Boston, Aug. s. AT p. m. the New York
Yacht Club squadron on the way from Vine
yard Haven to Marblehead, was between
Nausett Beacon and Highland Light, max
ing slow progress around Cape Cod against
the light northeast winds, it being dead
beat to windward around from Nantucket
for the entire distance around the Cape. A t
that hour the Volunteer was far in the lead
and, barring accidents, had the race we'll in
hand. Some two miles behind, was the
Puritan, which lead the Mayfiower mile
and half A mile behind the .Mayfiower
came the Priscilla, followed by the Atlantic,
about the same distance astern. After this
1t appeared as if some accident had happened
to the Puritan. She began to lose headway
and many thought she had had her topmast
carried away by plunging into the ground
swell, off Nausett. The Bedonin had good
lead among the second class sloops. The
Sachem wasl leading the lschooners. These
two yachts seemed sure winners in their
respective classes.
Not Arrived.
MARBLEHEAD, Mass, Aug 8.-The Elec-
ira arrived here at 5.15 p. m. The other
yachts have not arrived.
The Cup Committees Plans.
The Americas cup committee met yester-
day on the flagship Electra at Cottage City
and decided ON the dates for the trial races